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As the campaign manager for Daniel Miller (R) for Texas State Representative D21, our campaign’s primary focus has been to bring to light the voting record of incumbent Allan Ritter (R), our opponent in the race. By doing so, we hope to send Daniel to Austin to fight for true conservative values and raise awareness of the importance of voter accountability among the people of District 21. Checking voting records, following the money trail and staying up with what’s happening in legislative sessions is not only our right, it’s our duty.

If an incumbent has a bad voting record, he has to go – it’s that simple. Friendship or other affiliations aside, the fate of our state and nation hangs in the balance. Anyone claiming to be a True Conservatives must vote like a True Conservative. With corruption running rampant in Austin under the leadership of RINO Joe Straus, it’s painfully apparent that Ritter is part of Straus cronyism. His appointment as committee chair, along with the money trail he leaves and his voting record prove it. A very interesting fact is that Ritter’s switch from the Democrat to the Republican party after the 2010 elections, created a Republican super-majority in the House, giving Straus a decided advantage.

Challenged only once before in a race, Ritter couldn’t believe someone would even dare run against him. Unable to invalidate Daniel’s claim of being the True Conservative in the race, he started a “whisper campaign” spreading untrue, but hurtful, rumors in an attempt to damage Daniel’s credibility. He also told anyone who would listen that we were lying about his record.

This week, at a luncheon hosted by the Golden Triangle Republican Women, Daniel and Ritter were invited to speak. Because of a previous engagement, Daniel was unable to attend and Claver Kamau-Imani spoke in his place. Kamau-Imani, a well-respected voice in the fight for conservative values and grassroots principles, is the charismatic founder and executive director of the staunchly conservative RagingElephants.org and Stampede!TX2012.

In Kamau-Imani’s speech, he hit hard. Beginning with a run-down of failing grades, he cited data carefully collected and analyzed by conservative watchdog organizations. The list was brutal: 30, 57, 42, F, 32,55, 40, and 28. Speaking next, voice shaking with anger, Ritter stated to the crowd that he didn’t have to answer to those organizations, only his voters. Yet Ritter, by calling himself a Conservative Republican, is wrong about that. These watchdog organizations exist so voters can go to their sites, read information about an incumbent and make an educated decision. So why would someone who calls himself a Conservative Republican have a problem with that? Because Ritter’s record proves, without a doubt, that he is not conservative. And, bottom line, he doesn’t want the people of District 21 to study his record.

Just yesterday, Ritter cancelled a debate planned to be held by the Southeast Texas Tea Party on May 15th at the Regency Room. The debate was also for James White(R) and Mike “Tuffy” Hamilton(R), both incumbents, who now face off as opponents because of the redistricting fiasco. Southeast Texas Tea Party is not cancelling the event. They spent time, effort and money planning it. Daniel Miller and James White will honor their commitment and attend. Allan Ritter and “Tuffy” Hamilton, showing their lack of concern for voters, will not.

At this point, the gloves are off. We won’t resort to Ritter’s tactics because that’s not what we do. We’re just asking him to defend his voting record. We want him to “put up or shut up,” using Daniel’s words in a letter sent out to Ritter after the luncheon. Here is what I’d like to say to Ritter:

No more lies and innuendos, Ritter, we are tired of it. We’re not picking on you because we don’t like you. It’s your voting record we don’t like. Daniel entered this race strictly because of your voting record. Had it been that of a True Conservative, Daniel wouldn’t have entered the race. And from a Christian standpoint, it’s wrong to bear false witness. We’re not going around behind your back making up lies. It’s not my place to judge, I’ll leave the judging business to God. But I hear you go to the Baptist church and, as a fellow Christian, I’m compelled to remind you of one commandment that you seem to have forgotten. Your wife seems to need a reminder to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” for saying in a stage whisper, audible at least three rows back, that “somebody needs to trip him,” as Daniel exited the stage and walked by at a previous Tea Party forum.

So stop standing in the shadows whispering. It’s time to man up and show up for the debate, like you said you would. Let the people of District 21 hear you debate Daniel and let them can decide. Make this campaign “personal” for them. After all, you represented THEM for the last 12 years. The way you voted for the last 12 years effects every person living in District 21, including me, and I take that very personally. Give “we the people” a chance to find out why you cast votes in our name the way you did. And show up for the debate. I can’t think of anything more pressing you might have to do that night. This is the end of a political race. If you don’t show, I can only assume that the people of District 21 are really just not worth your time.

Side note: Official records for the House of Representatives can be found at a site called State Surge. From here, data is researched, compiled, and statistically analyzed by groups like Empower Texans, the Heritage Foundation and Texas Eagle Forum. These are just a few of the organizations which have consistently given Ritter failing grades. Links to Watchdog websites are included in Daniel’s letter.

In the spirit of full disclosure, a copy of this post will be sent to Ritter’s campaign email.